Rising
Adama Bal
6–7 | 190 | Guard | Santa Clara | Junior
After taking part in sparingly in his first two seasons for Arizona, this versatile guard, hailing from France, transferred to Santa Clara and now has exploded onto the scene, taking part in greater than half-hour per sport. He’s posting wonderful throughout numbers, with per-game averages of 16 factors, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and a steal on 50% FG / 40% 3P / 90% FT taking pictures. He was a bit inconsistent early within the season, however has now put collectively an extended string of fantastic manufacturing. His staff has not at all times been aggressive in its video games this season, with a number of blowout losses, together with to unranked groups. Most not too long ago, Bal (pictured) got here up large, hitting six straight free throws within the remaining minute towards Washington State in a 69–61 win on the Jerry Colangelo Traditional in Phoenix. With a body and ability set eerily just like former Bronco and present OKC Thunder, Jalen Williams, Bal possesses a 7-fott wingspan and is beginning to make lots of believers together with his versatile playmaking operating the purpose at 6-6. Following within the footsteps of aforementioned Jalen Williams and Brandin Podziemski, Bal may make it three years in a row {that a} participant from Santa Clara has damaged out as a star on the nationwide scene and turn out to be a primary spherical draft choose.
Jaxson Robinson
6–7 | 190 | Wing | BYU | Senior
This senior had bounced round fairly a bit, transferring from Texas A&M to Arkansas earlier than lastly discovering his footing at BYU. This has been by far his most efficient collegiate season, now averaging 17 factors, 3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per sport with wonderful effectivity (49% FG / 43% 3P / 92% FT). He had a 28 level explosion final week towards Denver, hitting 8 of 16 three level makes an attempt. It’s value noting that Robinson just isn’t (but) beginning for BYU — an indication of how early we’re in probably witnessing Jaxson blossom into a possible future NBA stud. The uncooked instruments from this lanky wing reminds of one thing between Mikal Bridges and Trey Murphy (with loads of growth remaining earlier than reaching the unimaginable heights of these two gamers’ ranges of success). If he continues with this stage of play via the season, we may simply see him transfer to the center of the primary spherical in 2024.
Matas Buzelis
6–11 | 190 | Stretch 4 | G League Ignite | Age 19
Buzelis is getting used because the function participant for the G League Ignite squad. By means of six video games with the Ignite, Matas Buzelis is filling up the stat sheet with per-game averages of 15 factors, 5 rebounds, practically 2 blocks and 1.5 steals. Buzelis had arguably his finest sport of the season final week, scoring 25 factors (although, value noting, did not report an help). And simply two days previous to that, he hit the sport winner, a 12-foot fade-a-way shot with simply 4 seconds left. He completed that sport with 21 factors, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, and a pair of blocks.
Not that, up to now, Buzelis is changing on lower than 30% of his 3-point makes an attempt this 12 months, and dishes out just one.3 assists per 1.8 turnovers. We’d wish to see him placed on some muscle mass and / or develop his exterior taking pictures as a way more dependable a part of his sport. However his general really feel, ability stage, and size / uncooked instruments have scouts very excessive on this intriguing prospect, on each the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Buzelis is a possible top-5 choose within the 2024 draft.
Jaylen Forbes
6–5 | 190 | Wing | Tulane | Senior
This rangy high-scoring wing struggled early this season (and, candidly, via a lot of his collegiate profession) with effectivity. However currently has given us cause to be fairly optimistic. Regardless of his age (as a fifth 12 months senior) Forbes has a wealth of promise as a consequence of what seems to be a 7’+ wingspan from the guard place and robust exterior taking pictures prowess. He performs practically the entire sport for Tulane, chatting with a excessive motor. And whereas up to now this season, he’s changing on a reasonably pedestrian 35% from behind the arc, his kind appears to be like good. And much more importantly, he appears to be like assured placing them up. About 2/3 of his shot makes an attempt come from deep. Over the earlier two seasons, Forbes was about 39% from behind the arc — not elite, however respectable. Will he proceed to enhance right here? Forbes additionally will get to the charity stripe at a good fee, about 5 free throw makes an attempt per sport, the place he converts on higher than 80%. He’s more durable than your common “shooter.” Forbes may very well be value a 2nd spherical flier for a staff searching for a wing with three-and-D potential.
Terrence Shannon Jr.
6–6 | 225 | Wing | Illinois | Senior
The fifth 12 months senior and Texas Tech switch is having fun with related success to what we noticed from him final season, with one key distinction — vastly improved exterior taking pictures. Shannon Jr. improved his three level knockdown fee from 32% to 42% this season, sufficient to take him from “mediocre” to “sturdy.” He’s versatile and robust, and has been good all season. However has had a very spectacular previous couple of weeks, together with a 33 level outburst towards the eleventh ranked Florida Atlantic. Over his previous three video games, he’s tried a exceptional 28 free throws, and transformed on an equally exceptional 26 of them. He additionally had 5 blocks in his most up-to-date sport, a testomony to his versatility. He boasts per sport averages this season of 21 factors, 4 rebounds, 2.5 assists. Appears to be like like a mid-to-late first rounder.
Judah Mintz
6–4 | 185 | Wing | Syracuse | Soph
This sophomore is averaging 20 factors, 3.5 assists, 3 rebounds, and practically 2 steals per sport on wonderful exterior taking pictures effectivity (52% 3P). He’s a bit streaky — over his earlier two video games, he shot 0–4 from deep. However the sport prior, he hit 5 of seven three level makes an attempt. He additionally will get to the free throw line loads. He’s had just a few video games the place he’s solely tried two from the charity stripe. However for probably the most half, he’s making an attempt ten or extra free throws per sport. Mintz just isn’t as lightning-quick as you may anticipate of somebody his measurement and talent. However he has sneaky energy and performs with lots of aptitude. Over his previous three video games he’s averaging 24 factors, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and three steals.
Ajay Mitchell
6–5 | 190 | Guard | UC Santa Barbara | Junior
This thrilling, explosive guard is filling up the stat sheet this season, posting per-game averages of twenty-two factors, 5rebounds, 4 assists, and a steal on wonderful 53% FG / 44% 3P / 90% FT taking pictures. He additionally boasts a formidable 2:1 help:turnover ratio. It additionally have to be famous that Mitchell has bumped his exterior taking pictures prowess considerably — final season he shot 27% from deep in comparison with 43% this season. We’d wish to see him maintain this taking pictures efficicency over an even bigger pattern measurement (over the complete season). However Mitchell could also be taking pictures his approach into the 2024 NBA Draft first spherical (beforehand regarded as a 2025 second rounder)! This Belgian was a former 3-star recruit however is basically making a reputation for himself this season.
Falling
Trentyn Flowers
6–9 | 180 | Wing | Adelaide 36ers (Australian NBL) | Age 18
After de-committing from Lousiville and taking a considerably much less widespread path of taking part in professionally in Australia, and a failed preliminary experiment at level guard, Flowers has struggled to indicate the consistency to take care of his spot within the mid-first spherical space of the mock 2024 Draft. The fluid athlete likes to run the ground and rating in any respect ranges. However his staff is basically struggling, at the moment sitting eventually place in its division with a 4–11 report. And up to now he’s performed fairly sparingly as effectively. On the plus facet, Flowers does stand to see extra courtroom time as he learns the Australian professional system and staff schemes because the season goes on.
Stephon Fortress
6–5 | 215| Guard | UConn | Freshman
Fortress, who as soon as appeared like a surefire lottery choose, now sees his draft inventory in critical query after an underwhelming first a part of the 2023–24 collegiate season. He began effectively sufficient early within the season towards unranked groups. However he’s actually struggled towards the higher competitors that UCONN has confronted currently. It’s seemingly that a minimum of some, if not most, of Fortress’s latest struggles are as a consequence of a knee harm that pressured him to overlook most of November. That may be troublesome on any participant, not to mention a first-year man.
Fortress scored simply 3 factors in 10 minutes two weeks in the past towards UNC (however he did seize 4 rebounds). And he scored simply 6 factors in 19 minutes towards Gonzaga final week (however he did dish out 3 assists). The story isn’t all unhealthy right here — his staff is profitable (UCONN is at the moment undefeated within the video games wherein Fortress performs). However so as to stay a lottery choose, Fortress’s particular person contribution and subsequently confidence and showcasing of what he can do for a staff on the subsequent stage will seemingly must turn out to be extra clear. Fortress has solely performed in 5 of UConn’s 11 video games, and since coming back from his knee harm has struggled to seek out his rhythm.
